New 155mm shells by Expal arrived in Ukraine

3 August, 2023 ERO2A1 projectiles of the company Expal Systems of the Ukrainian military.

2023 year. Ukraine. Photo credits: "Pan Gik"

Ukrainian gunners were armed with new Spanish 155mm shells by Expal Systems. The new ERO2A1 projectiles were manufactured in 2023. Ukrainian volunteers started to publish photos with these shells.

These shells are supplied to Ukraine as part of assistance from the government of Spain. The ER02A1 155mm projectile of the Expal company has also been adopted by the Spanish army. ER02A1 can be equipped with a regular tail or gas generator.

ERO2A1 projectiles by Expal Systems of the Ukrainian military, 2023, Ukraine. Photo credits: @StepanSraka

This ensures a projectile's firing range of 30 and 40 kilometers, respectively.

The high-explosive version, developed jointly with the Spanish army, was qualified, unlike the lighting and smoke variants. The deal for the Spanish army also included the EC-102 electronic fuse with three modes: shock, timer, and delay. On August 1 of this year, Rheinmetall AG has completed its takeover of all shares in Spain's Expal Systems.

In the future, the company will operate under the name Rheinmetall Expal Munitions.

Projectiles of the company Expal Systems. Photo from the company page

The acquisition was worth EUR1.2 billion and, according to the company's statement, will "enhance its position as an important supplier to the NATO armed forces by systematically increasing its production capacity, especially for artillery, mortars, and medium caliber". Expal Systems' products include artillery munitions, mortar shells, and medium-caliber shells, as well as detonators and rocket launchers.

Rheinmetall Expal Munitions will continue to work for the Spanish Armed Forces as a privileged and key partner, offering its products, technologies, and industrial capabilities.